Avian flu

Update: 18 November 2025

Following the escalating number of cases of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, the AIPZ with mandatory housing measures to protect poultry and captive birds has now been extended to the whole of England to all keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs or poultry products (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds).

It is now a legal requirement for keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs or poultry products (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds) in England to house their birds and continue to follow stringent biosecurity measures. Please see the press release on GOV.UK for more information.

The AIPZ requiring mandatory biosecurity measures remains in place across Great Britain.

Please also check the disease control zones on the avian influenza interactive map to see what restrictions are in place.

Definitive requirements are set out in the published declarations for each disease control zone currently in force. More information is available on GOV.UK.

Update: 19 August 2024

Following the UK’s worst ever outbreak of avian influenza, with more than 360 cases across Great Britain since late October 2021 including in a significant number of backyard flocks, new measures to better protect the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks have been set out by the government.

DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) has therefore announced new requirements for all bird keepers.

In England and Wales keepers are required to register their birds ahead of the legal deadline on 1 October 2024. Plot holders can register online as a keeper of less than 50 poultry or other captive birds or by email or post using the Voluntary Poultry Registration Form - Keeper of Fewer Than 50 Birds Bird keepers will need to provide information, including their contact details, the location where birds are kept and details of the birds (species, number and what they are kept for).

All birds kept on a CBMDC allotment must be registered with the Allotment Office regardless of the size of their flock, and the DEFRA registration number provided. Failure to register birds kept on an allotment plot could forfeit your allotment tenancy.

The UKHSA advise that the available evidence suggests viruses currently circulating in birds in the UK do not spread easily to people and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

Bird keepers should report suspicion of disease in England to the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200301.

Members of the public are reminded not to touch dead wild birds and are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the new online reporting system or by calling the DEFRA helpline on 03459 335577.